World Navies Today - Us Navy Research & Survey Vessels

World Navies Today: US Navy Research & Survey Vessels Revised 10 March 2003 Version 2.17 Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan World Navies Today Main Page: http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/

This list includes research ships engaged in general oceanographic research and survey work. Ships under 500 tons and non-self propelled ships are not included. Other military research/trials vessels, supporting specific USN R&D activities, are listed separately. Ships not yet commissioned, or in long-term overhaul/conversion, are listed in italics. Navigation and surface-search radars are not listed. All classifications are purely unofficial and are based on an attempt to use standard classifications throughout all navies; they may or may not correspond to "official" designations. Where two dates are given (i.e. 1965/82), the first is the date of initial completion, and the second is the date of acquisition, conversion, or transfer. Designations given in (parentheses) are assigned but not displayed on the ship's hull. MSC-manned ships carry prefix USNS, all others carry prefix R/V. Note: AGORs are assigned to academic institutions for operation; they are not under USN control, although USN may fund specific research activities to be carried out aboard these ships. Note: The ocean survey ship Waters has been converted to serve in navigation research and missile tracking roles, and is listed with Special Mission Auxiliaries.

Pathfinder class oceanographic research/survey ships (6 ships) Displacement: 4,762 tons full load Dimensions: 328 x 58 x 19 feet/100 x 17.6 x 5.8 meters Propulsion: diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 8,000 shp, 16 knots Crew: 25 civilian + 27 mission crew + 3 transients Concept/Program: Large multirole research/survey ships, intended for MSC operation and capable of very long-range operations. Builders: Halter Marine, Moss Point, MS. Number (T-AGS 60) (T-AGS 61) (T-AGS 62) (T-AGS 63) (T-AGS 64) (T-AGS 65)

Name Pathfinder Sumner Bowditch Henson Bruce C. Heezen Mary Sears

Year 1994 1995 1996 1999 2000 2001

FLT ATL PAC PAC ATL ATL

Homeport (none) (none) (none) (none) (none) (none)

Group MSC Atlantic MSC Far East MSC Far East MSC MSC MSC

Notes

Thomas G. Thompson class oceanographic research/survey ships (3 ships) Displacement: 3,250 tons full load Dimensions: 274 x 52 x 17 feet/83.5 x 15.8 x 5.2 meters Propulsion: 6 diesels, diesel-electric, 6,000 shp, 2 shafts, 15 knots Crew: 20 civilian + 35-40 mission crew Concept/Program: Multirole research/survey ships built for academic/research organizations. This is a class of four ships; the first two (AGOR 23, 24) are configured for general research/survey duties. Atlantis (AGOR 25) was built as a submersible support ship. The fourth ship (often incorrectly identified as AGOR 26) was built for and transferred to NOAA. Builders: Trinity/Halter Marine, Moss Point, MS.

Number (AGOR 23) (AGOR 24) (AGOR 25)

Name Thomas G. Thompson Roger Revelle

Year FLT Homeport 1991 PAC Seattle

Group UofWashington

1996 PAC LaJolla, CA

Scripps

Atlantis

1997 ATL Woods Hole, Woods Hole MA Oceanographic / NDSF

Notes

Melville class oceanographic research/survey ships (2 ships)

Displacement: 2,670 tons full load Dimensions: 279 x 46 x 15 feet/85 x 14 x 4.6 meters Propulsion: 4 diesels, diesel-electric, 3,000 shp, 3 shafts, 14 knots Crew: 24 civilian + 34 mission crew Concept/Program: Large, highly capable multimission ships built for operation by academic institutions. Both underwent major modernizations 1988-1991, including all new propulsion, lengthened hull, complete refit of oceanographic gear. Builders: Defoe SB, Bay City, MI. Number (AGOR 14) (AGOR 15)

Name Year FLT Homeport Melville 1969 PAC LaJolla, CA

Group Scripps

Knorr

Woods Hole Oceanographic (WHOI)

1970 ATL Woods Hole, MA

Notes

Kilo Moana oceanographic research/survey ship

Displacement: 2,542 tons full load Dimensions: 177.5 x 78.6 feet/55.47 x 24.58 meters Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 4,024 hp, 12 knots Crew: 17 + 31 mission crew Concept/Program: A SWATH research ship for the University of Hawaii, funded by Congress with no Navy request. Replaced ex-Navy Moana Wave.

Builders: Lockheed Martin; construction subcontracted to Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, FL. Number (AGOR 26)

Name Kilo Moana

Year 2002

FLT Homeport PAC Honolulu

Group UofHawaii

Notes

John McDonnell class coastal survey ships (2 ships)

Displacement: 2,054 tons full load Dimensions: 208 x 45 x 14 feet/63.4 x 13.7 x 4.3 meters Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 12 knots Crew: 23 civilan + 10 mission crew Concept/Program: A pair of ships intended coastal work. Builders: Halter Marine, Moss Point, MS. Number (T-AGS 51) (T-AGS 52)

Name John McDonnell Littlehales

Year FLT Homeport 1992 (none) (none) 1992 (none) (none)

Group MSC Central MSC Central

Notes

Disposal Note: All Conrad and Gyre class ships have been discarded (except Gosport, listed separately); Mizar has been discarded; both Maury class ships have become maritime academy training ships; both Chauvenet class ships have been discarded (one became a maritme academy training ship); H.H. Hess has been discarded, and the last "Victory" type ships have been discarded. Hayes has been converted to an acoustic trials ship.

Compiled and maintained by Andrew Toppan. Copyright © 1997-2003, Andrew Toppan. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, reuse, or distribution without permission